Critic Reviews

In Japan, I'm told that there isn't much of a Hollywood for creative minds to go to. So when creative minds get an incredible idea, instead of making a film, they proceed to make a game. That adage plays very strongly in influencing this title. Very cinematic in nature, Shadow of Destiny encourages replaying by offering at least half a dozen endings and the opportunity to travel back in time to fix more pedestrian problems. Its magic and charm is in its problem solving, on the order of the fourth dimension: time. It weaves this often-problematic device so well into the plot that the two are seamlessly meshed together to provide, ceteris paribus, one of the most compelling adventures released this year.

Shadow of Destiny only lacks in one place and that is its length as I finished the game in a couple hours. However the game has up to five different endings that can be viewed by taking different paths in the game, adding great replay value. Overall, Shadow of Destiny is a great game with a great Hitchcock type story line that is surely worthy of most PS2 gamer’s purchase.

In the end I should be honest about Shadow of Destiny, I wasn't expecting much from it, until I had a copy sent to me for review. At first I would play the game for about 3 hours straight, then another 2 hours to realize that this is the Playstation 2's first sleeper-hit. Shadow of Destiny features great visuals to accompany the most unique adventure game created to date. I advise everybody reading this review to go purchase Shadow of Destiny, this is one game that will really make you say "wow, that was cool". It's not as complex as you think it may be, in fact the story is quite easy to follow, I just don't want to give away any of it. Shadow of Destiny, is your destiny people, you've been waiting for a game like this! I know I have.

I'll be upfront; Shadow of Destiny is definitely not for everyone. But if you're a fan of Adventure games or are looking for a great story with intriguing puzzles than this is your game. Best of all it takes the graphics of the traditional adventure game to the next level, allowing those with nice graphic cards to test their setup with something other than a First Person Shooter. The puzzles do leave a bit to be desired, but the game's cinematic flare and great characterization keep this game above water and make it definitely worth your gaming dollar. If you've been aching for the next good and proper adventure game then quit reading this and order your copy of Shadow of Destiny.

I expected a longer game. I would have liked it this way partially because the game is too short on one hand and more than half of it on the other hand is represented by cut-scenes. It's more a movie than a game. I can even say it's a piece, a bit of a lifetime, an extended haiku to a game's dimensions.

Shadow of Destiny is a murder mystery and its enjoyment comes in the form of a captivating storyline that will pull you in so deeply that you won't want to stop playing until you finish the quest. And once you've done that, you'll likely want to keep playing over and over again until you've unlocked all of the various endings that are truly worth seeing and completely rewarding because they'll fill you in on the game's different secrets and characters. Unlike most games with multiple endings, you're just not getting the entire story here until you've seen each and every one of them.

Konami has a reputation for delivering solid games and sequels that are even better (unlike Capcom, a company that churns out assembly line sequels simply to sponge off the success of the original--is there even one iota of difference between the numerous Resident Evil incarnations other than the changed setting?). Shadow of Destiny offers a satisfying conclusion (well, at least the one I saw) while leaving a small crack in the plot for a follow-up. Even if there is no sequel, I still leave satisfied, but since I only played through to one ending, I am not satiated with the concept of the game.

The graphics are now high resolution and are much crisper and more vibrant than they were on the Playstation 2 version. But, Voodoo 1, Voodoo 2 and Banshee cards are not supported thank you very much. Be aware that there is occasional load time, not a common occurrence in adventure games. The main character is controlled via a combination of keyboard and mouse. I did experience a little difficulty maneuvering him at first, but once I mastered using the mouse and keyboard simultaneously for movement, all was fine. This is a timed game. Unlike games that include timed puzzles for no reason, there is a valid reason for Shadow of Destiny to include real time events.

Shadow of Destiny can seem clunky and unwieldy, especially when compared with graphical powerhouses like The Bouncer and Zone of the Enders. But while it may not tax the PS2's Emotion Engine, the game has plenty of emotion all the same. The original structure and narrative make Shadow of Destiny well worth playing, despite its minor flaws. Gamers willing to invest the time required to unravel the title's mysteries will discover one of the PS2's most enjoyable games and one of the most original adventure games to grace a console.

At times, Shadow of Destiny can seem clunky and unwieldy, especially when compared with graphical powerhouses like The Bouncer and Zone of the Enders. But while it may not tax the PS2's Emotion Engine, the game has plenty of emotion all the same. The original structure and narrative make Shadow of Destiny well worth playing, despite its minor flaws. Gamers willing to invest the time required to unravel the title's mysteries will discover one of the PS2's most enjoyable games and one of the most original adventure games to grace a console.

It may not be the prettiest adventure game ever made for a console, or even the most difficult, but Shadow of Destiny boasts the most involving plot to date. In fact, highly acclaimed PC releases like The Longest Journey offer no more intriguing a plot or premise than that of a main character using time travel to stave off his own death. Fortunately the promise of this story is not wasted, and the resulting plot combines the complexity and paranoia of the X-Files with the carefully considered temporal paradoxes of the “Back to the Future” series. The end product is a game that possesses that mysterious “can’t put it down” quality that makes for a near classic. Had a few graphical improvements and a bit more variety in the gameplay been interjected into the mix this would have been a must-have for all PS2 owners. As it stands, especially in the light of minimal adventure releases on any platform, Shadow of Destiny is certainly a game worth dying for.

In sum, Shadow of Destiny is an innovative murder mystery adventure with a very unique story that tackles a number of philosophic questions about life and death and all that lies in between. The game features a very appealing art style in both graphics and sounds as well as cinematic cut scenes that ravel the best of anime storytelling. Playing the game will definitely leave you thinking a lot about the deeper subject matters brought up in the game, which is why this game is worth a few hours of your time and attention.

All I can say is that this is easily one of the most enjoyable experiences currently available on the PS2, and I hope that all you adventure fans out there give it a try. It may have a few problems, such as an inconsistent camera system, and be a bit short, but I can honestly promise you that you'll enjoy Shadow of Destiny for every moment you're playing it. Even casual gamers won't have a problem coming to grips with the controls or the puzzles. And that, in itself, is a sure sign of a well-designed game.

After all these years, Shadow of Destiny is still a fine adventure. The branching story line, de-emphasis on combat and more focus on the actual mystery at hand bring about a type of adventure game rarely seen on the portable console. With barely any changes made to the graphics and story and a few minor changes to the audio, it is a bit tough to recommend Shadow of Destiny to aficionados who have already seen all of the game's endings. Fans who have already played the original but want to play this title on the go should pick up this PSP version. For gamers who are just looking for a good adventure, Shadow of Destiny is very easy to recommend.

Whilst some aspects of the game will deter some players, I thought participating in Eike's efforts was particularly satisfying. Whilst they were on a grand scale, they were gentle in their passing, and despite the relentless passage of time, Eike could hasten slowly and not be rushed. Time is fascinating, and has been the source of many entertaining discourses and diversions. Shadow of Destiny is yet another.

Shadow of Destiny, while not the longest adventure game around, still proves to be compelling both with its tight storyline and unique concept of time travel. If you've already played this on the PS2, there's nothing new to see. But if you haven't tried out the PS2 version, then we definitely recommend you check this out.

It's unfortunate, but graphical adventure games, which used to be the most popular kind of computer game around, have been in decline for some years. As such, it may seem ironic that Shadow of Destiny, one of the best PC adventure games to come around in some time, was originally a console game. Then again, most fans of adventure games will likely ignore the irony at this point and just be glad to get their hands on a decent one for their PCs.

At the beginning there are problems with the controls and you miss also a certain amount of interactivity and freedom of movement. But at the latest starting from chapter 5 (of 9 chapters or better said 10), it really becomes exciting and captivating. What seems at the beginning simple and little challenging, later gets nested and more complex. With the numbered endings and the per cent score the developers were out for the gamers to replay the game at least 6 times, until you watched the last video sequences. It's possible to rush through the game within 6 to 7 hours, but it can also take you 20 hours. "Shadow of Memories" has a really good and thought out concept. It is exciting and surprising. I would have wished myself however more interactivity at least up to chapter 5, a better handling and more savegames.

It may not be a gift from the gods, but Shadow of Destiny is a solid game. Initially the story feels retarded, but give it some time and you'll see the light. The multiple endings and extra goodies really ups the replay value, a rarity in a game of this sort. Still, the lack of action deals a heavy blow to this otherwise polished adventure.

Shadow of Destiny will always have a special place in my heart and remain a standout on the PS2, but when it’s judged against the current PSP library, it falls short. The story is still interesting and adventure fans will want to see the different endings play out, but the deserted streets, simple quest structure, and limited audio probably won’t win newcomers over. It’s not a bad game, but it’s an old one that isn’t timeless or worth $30.

While this isn't an accessible title for the masses, Shadow of Destiny is certainly an outstanding adventure game in terms of thematic and narrative structure. Fans of the adventure genre and those are interested in something new should give this one a look. Those who would rather demolish enemies instead of sitting through countless conversations, however, should forget about solving Eike Kusch's murder.

While I had a great time with Shadow of Destiny, it's not a game that I feel everyone will love. Some people will be more put off by the mechanics of the 3D engine than I was, and the length of the game could be a big problem for others. But those that are willing to try out something with a new and interesting concept should definitely give this title a shot.

Shadows of Destiny tells the tale of Eike Kusch, a man whose destiny is to get murdered. Altering the future is not easy, and it’s the player’s job to stop each attempt at his demise. To accomplish this, players must travel back in time and solve puzzles that will change the future and save Eike’s hide. The game spans nine chapters with over three hours of computer-generated cinematics. While the plot is interesting, the execution is questionable. The acting is just plain bad, as are the voice-overs. Since most of the game is spent watching the movies, there just isn’t a whole lot here to get excited about. I advise you look elsewhere.

It's jarring how Shadow of Destiny thrusts you right into the story without any tutorial or sense of direction. Once you've recovered from this initially awkward stumbling block, the plot and gameplay grow more manageable and enjoyable. The game's time-travel element is cleverly implemented and makes the other less entertaining adventure game mechanics less boring. With the quirky story and dimensional warping, we can see in some ways why Konami would want to resurrect this unique title, but it's hard to imagine anyone other than serious adventure game fans being able to sit through this one for very long.

The graphics have been improved from the original PlayStation2 version and certain aspects. such as characters' hair, are extremely impressive. Sadly such good graphics do not ensure that a game is playable. The camera angles can be restrictive - especially since many PC games manage this automatically. Also, the ability to save game positions has not been updated to take advantage of the PC's capabilities, so it's only possible to save at the end of each level. However, the impression of having travelled through time is convincing. Faces may look similar but mannerisms feel like they are from previous times.
Shadow of Memories is a good game for those looking for a more cerebral challenge, not for high-octane action addicts.

As insulting as the gameplay is, the storyline should be highly commended. It’s not too often that a narrative in a game is so successfully thought out and executed. Since the storyline is essentially half the game, and the multiple endings work so well, I can’t say I totally disliked this game. Even so, the port issues are inexcusable, so consider yourself forewarned if you plan to try Shadow of Destiny.

If you’re looking for a slightly interactive movie with a decent story, you may like Shadow of Destiny. But I think those easily impressed console gamers need to be exposed to some LucasArts classics like Monkey Island or Grim Fandango to understand what a good adventure game really is.

To reward you for all of your efforts there are five different endings you can unlock as well as an additional chapter should you score a high enough percentage on the individual chapters. Some of the endings are good, some aren't, one is absolutely hilarious given everything you just spent hours trying to avoid, but in the end, none are satisfying enough to make you feel like all of the time jumping back and forth through time were worth it. It doesn't help that Eike isn't doing all of this to save the world or anything similarly grandiose. He's just trying to save his own skin and he's not endearing enough of a character to make that a sufficient motivation. Unfortunately the game's premise, mechanics or characters don't help either as they aren't interesting enough to make you overcome any indifference you feel towards Eike's plight. In the end, what ultimately does Eike in is apathy.